TIRANA - The Ambassador of the Netherlands to Albania Dewi van de Weerd has undertaken an innovative and initiative by personally answering to questions put to her by ordinary Albanians on the official website of her Embassy.

"Do you have questions on the presidency, on the EU, on Albania and the EU, on you and the EU, on you and the Netherlands? Post your questions here between today (7 January 2016) and 11 January and Ambassador Dewi van de Weerd will personally answer them," said the announcement placed on the website.

The Albanian Daily News expresses its kindness for such an endeavor of the Ambassador and its editor-in-chief Genc Mlloja put the following questions and the answers are below as shown on the official website of the Dutch Embassy:

- Editor-in-Chief Genc Mlloja: Your Excellency, which will be the priorities of your country during the EU presidency, especially with regards to enlargement and the refugee issue which have been considered in different ways by the members of the block?

-The Netherlands Embassy in Albania: The Netherlands has based its priorities for the Presidency on three principles: (1) a Union that focuses on the essentials, (2) a Union that creates innovative growth and jobs, and (3) a Union that connects with society.

As EU Presidency holder, The Netherlands will be focusing on four priority areas:

1. Migration & international security

2. Europe as an innovator & job creator

3. Sound finances and a robust Eurozone

4. Forward-looking climate & energy policy

The first priority on 'migration and international security' aims at controlling Europe's external borders effectively, improving the initial reception of refugees in Europe and the region, and sharing the burden fairly among all member states. Some countries of the Western Balkans and Turkey are also affected by the current migration crisis. Regional collaboration is needed to face up to this challenge.

- Which are some new opportunities to boost the relations between the Netherlands and Albania? As a matter of fact, it is evident that the Dutch businesses have stayed far from Albania and the economic cooperation does not match the positive atmosphere of the political ties between the two countries?

-New opportunities we see in the economic and trade relations between the two countries are in the field of agriculture, energy and sustainable developments. Examples of initiatives we are working on is stimulating cycling in Tirana, agro-tourism and improving the efficiency of the value chain in the fruit and vegetables sector.

There are issues which can and should be improved on the Albanian side to increase its attractiveness for foreign investment, like providing more legal certainties to foreign business, creating a more stable and predictable business environment.

- Your Excellency, it's easy for you to exchange views with Tirana politicians given your ambassadorial status. But do you make any efforts to collect opinions of the ordinary Albanians in order to create a true picture of the situation in this Balkan country as top envoy of your country where more than in any other European countries there is a 'record gap' between the rich and the poor? And secondly, how do you feel yourself in Albania when you travel privately, I mean not under the cloak of the Ambassador?

-I talk to Albanian citizens on a daily basis, and find that crucial to better understand the challenges they face. Together with my family we like to travel throughout the country.

Every time I am amazed at the kindness of Albanians and their friendly interest in talking to a foreigner.

Box

In her answers to other questions like if Albania is going to open any chapters for negotiation with the EU during the coming six months that the Netherlands has the EU presidency and if not did she have any estimates as to when that will happen, the Ambassador said the following:

The European Commission concluded in its 2015 progress report that Albania made progress with regard to the political criteria towards accession. In order to be able to open accession negotiations Albania will need to implement reforms in five key priority areas, for instance a comprehensive reform of the judicial system. Further tangible results are necessary in establishing a solid track record of pro-active investigations, prosecutions and final convictions at all levels in the fight against corruption and organized crime.

The protection of fundamental rights, including property rights needs to be strengthened. A more constructive cross-party political dialogue remains essential for the continuity of the EU reform process. It is up to the European Commission to propose a date for the opening of accession talks, which then has to be endorsed by the European Council.

This will depend upon Albania's progress. Its government, its parliament and the political class need to move on with the ongoing reforms and fulfill all engagements on the top priorities the EU Commission has outlined. I think, however, that Albanians should not focus on "when to get there", but especially have to consider "how to get there" and " how to get there in full standards".

"Your county never supports Albania," was another question to which the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Albania Dewi van de Weerd answered as following:

"In the last two decades, the Netherlands has been supporting Albania in different sectors like democratization and good governance, environment, urban planning, water and energy, SME development. Dutch support has been political, technical and financial through its Development Cooperation Program until 2010, and currently through its MATRA program for Rule of Law, through economic instruments and incentives that promote Dutch-Albanian partnerships and investments. As an EU member state, in the framework of the EU enlargement policy, the Netherlands supports Albanian efforts towards EU integration. With its strict and fair policy, the Netherlands has been and will keep assisting Albania to carry on with its commitments and engagement to complete ongoing reforms."

Another question was linked with the opinion that there was a lack of encouragement or support with grants for independent media projects. The Ambassador answered that the Dutch Embassy had continuously monitored and promoted the media freedom. "In my opinion the media actors themselves can play a decisive role to promote the media freedom and independence. As far as the grants are concerned, I think that there are different possible options. For example an opportunity is "Creative Europe" which is a program of the European Union. Albania is one of the countries which has the right to profit from this program," said the Ambassador, Dewi van de Weerd.